Thursday, August 23, 2012

I should catch up on things that happened forever ago, but which I failed to post about. So here's something delightfully silly for you - my too cool sister Julia took me to see the latest Batman movie at the midnight premier at my favorite theater. You see things I've sewn all the time, but this time I got to borrow Julia's super cool super hero super Robin outfit. I have no idea how she ended up being such a good seamstress, but her stuff is great. She debuted a brand-new batman outfit, but lent me her old Robin dress so we could match. Too cute! Plus, we got tasty victory popcorn. It was great. Also, she was a better blogger than me, so if you want to get her side of the story (she even already used the best pictures, making my post a little pointless), check it out here.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

This weekend was AMAZING. CVD did a fabulous performance at the Commandant's House at the Charlestown Navy Yard. This was part of their Guerriere Weekend celebrations - in 1812 the USS Constitution fought the Guerriere and won spectacularly. For the Bicentennial, they got a bunch of 1812 reenactor groups in for a camping event in the Navy Yard, and the Constitution went out under its own power for only the second time in the past 100 years or so. The whole event was a pretty big deal, and we had an unspeakably wonderful time in their gorgeous 1805 house. I should sort these pictures into a sensible order, but it is too difficult. In the interest of not taking any longer to post this, here are random pictures with commentary.

We put together a great lunch. Pickles! Alex and I both understand that pickles are the ideal food.

The punch bowl was for raspberry shrub that I made, which people found quite inoffensive for a vinegar-based drink. There was also delicious syllabub thanks to Julia R, and great cookies to dip in it from Raven. Not to mention lots of bread and cheese and Gibraltars (old fashioned peppermint and lemon candies made in Salem, MA).

Eating food, but more importantly you can see how cute Julia's hairstyle was.

We went out to see the Constitution! This was on Saturday when it wasn't moving.

Another picture with the ship.

I think I'm pulling on my gloves. Anyway, don't we look pretty? We had some good down time for chatting and playing games, in between dance performances. After all, we were there ALL DAY Saturday and for several hours on Sunday too!

See? Some nice casual sitting. I think they were just playing cards, but you can't see the cards anymore.

Blind Man's Buff is actually fun! Somehow I did not expect that.

Some key features for making it fun? Play with silly people you know pretty well. Play on a solid floor (not on grass), so you can hear them walking about. Make sure to bait your friends - it is funnier to watch and more likely to get you caught.

Mother wins an award for being the funniest. You see Mark catching Julia in this picture. While he was trying to identify her, Mother leaned on her shoulder and said "But do I really have to do this again?" She completely faked him out, and he was awfully surprised to find himself facing Julia. It was really hilarious.

Because the furnishings are modern (the house was a designer house a few years ago), we actually get to sit on them. This was as comfortable as it was pretty.

The third floor is all covered with these fabulous murals. I wanted a picture of myself with the pretty boats.

Mother took a picture with Bunker Hill, though. The murals are modern, but they are very pretty.

Me with another ship, in a little stair alcove. You can see the silly hair I attempted for the day.

After a long day of performing and a lovely concert, we hosted a ball for the reenactors. A lot of them didn't stick it out to the end, but a few dedicated dancers did. It was really nice to meet some of them, and also to meet a lot of nice rangers. Some of the rangers even tried dancing with us! Everyone did really well, so we did some pretty complicated dances.

Of course, then we did some more performing on Saturday. I don't have the best pictures of us performing because I was too busy dancing and thinking to take any. We did have a dedicated photographer (thanks Laura), so perhaps when I see her pictures I will do another post.

Oh, back to blind man's buff. I told you I hadn't sorted these for order - sorry!

Another one!

And another shot of the ball.

We had really great musicians. Seriously, they made my day!

Guerriere the Terrier! The Navy Yard has a charming museum (you should go!), and obviously we went straight for the gift shop.

But there were other museum shenanigans. Here Julia and Raven reenact a melodramatic parting.

I have a cannon!

Quinn scrubs the deck.

Cute girls in hammocks! Just for the record, that creepy guy creeping on us is actually a cut-out, and part of the museum exhibit. We didn't notice him as we took the picture, but he looks pretty funny now that you look at it...

Poor Julia is hungry.

This was my favorite! We tried our hand at tying up a sail. Mixed success... but we look really cute doing it.

The weather was great on Sunday, so we had a fabulous picnic.

Here is the Emma looking very pretty, watching the Constitution come in from its trip. We had a pretty epic adventure ourselves, as we raced to find a good spot from which to see. Word of warning - hopping a fence is never my strong suit, but a regency dress is an odd outfit for adventures of this nature.

Isn't she beautiful?

Remember, we tried this at the museum, but I suspect these guys were a lot better at it. Plus they are actually really high up. Impressive, no?

We were the ones who went running for a new spot. I think it paid off.

I love this one, where we're waving.

With cute soldiers! We also talked to some of them earlier in the day, and a few of them had come to the ball. Soldiers who dance? Fantastic! When we saw them all standing together we had to ask for a picture.

Ah! I've hardly talked about clothing. An oversight. I had a new white dress (and Julia a new pink one), but my favorite part of this outfit was the jewelry. I stole this pretty coral necklace from some box of Mother's a while ago (she doesn't mind sharing, though). When I was in Vienna we saw some grape earrings like this at a museum gift shop and almost bought them, but then we didn't. Then I decided I had really wanted them after all, because coral jewelry is such a very regency thing and we're heading in the direction of doing much more regency dancing and events (what can I say - people actually like it!). I found these on ebay and it was clearly meant to be! The end.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

After the 1890s ball we went back to our room and decided to be awfully silly. Do you remember the game Pretty Pretty Princess? Honestly, I hardly do, but I do remember there was a box of cheap plastic jewelry and the winner of the game got to put on all the jewelry and the princess! Or something like that. Of course, instead of cheap plastic we had all the (fairly fabulous) rhinestone jewelry of a weeks worth of fancy balls. Including a ton of brooches because I freaked out while packing and just took extras instead of making decisions. Anyway, here we go:

I was the clear loser. Julia counted that I was wearing 20 pieces of glitter during the ball, and here I have stripped down to one measly tiara. But I get points for style on my teased monster hair, right?

Quinn is rocking two tiaras, and some assorted necklace bling.

Julia R with a number of necklaces and a great brooch.

Raven in at least one tiara, plus pearls, rhinestone collar, and some fabulous matching dripping flower brooches that I have plans for but haven't yet debuted.

But here we have our undisputed victor. Can you even tell how many brooches he's wearing? And doesn't he have great hair for tiaras? He can really pull off the look. Not to mention that I love the iron man pants. Congratulations Nick - the rest of us never had a chance.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Inquiring minds wanted to know (see my previous post). Luckily, I have a poor quality video! I can take no responsibility for this, but Nick and the two Julia's came up with it, and I think it is fairly darling (if questionably named).

Monday, August 13, 2012

For the 1890s ball, we went all out on the glitter. For me that meant a tiara, two necklaces, and 14 sparkly bow pins. Excessive? Since it was all about the sparkles, I made the dress out of black velvet for maximum visibility. Add some big hair, and it's a thing. I started Mother's dress for Newport last year, but we didn't get as far as a bodice. Everything this year was a little rushed (I lost about a month of preparation time to the flu followed by a vicious cold), but the fabric is lovely. It deserves to be trimmed with something pretty next time, though. Julia's dress was also new (and unfinished). I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but it is the most amazing fabric ever. Pretty green gauze all covered in gold and embroidery. Wow. Pictures!

The lights are making my tiara difficult to distinguish, but it is a fabulous one, all fleur de lys and sparkles!

Black velvet shows off the bows. I think I need more for the bodice, though. What do you think?

Sitting.

All the angles.

With Julia. This doesn't do the green dress any justice. It is amazing.

With Adrian

Pugliese girls, covered in sparkles

People dancing

More people. More dancing.

Zombie cakewalk!

More typical cakewalk. You can't see me behind Julia, but you can see my foot.

About Me

Antonia is a 19th century girl who teaches vintage dance, sews reproduction clothing, collects beautiful things, and generally has adventures. Expect to hear her talk about clothing, dancing, silly things, history, and even more clothing. She likes her interests and her friends to be mildly impractical and highly romantic.